All countries should tell Pak to rein in terrorism: MEA on busted spy ring

New Delhi: Speaking to media persons on Thursday, MEA spokesperson Vikas Swarup confirmed that the Pakistani spy who was arrested earlier in the day carried a fake Aadhaar card and claimed to be an Indian national.

Swarup said that Mehmood Akhtar and his family have been given 48 hours to leave the country.

Read: Spy ring busted in Pak embassy, 1 staff told to leave India; others under lens

Confirming that the spy had been caught with sensitive documents, Swarup said that Akhtar was tracked over 6 months by Indian intelligence. A member of Baloch regiment, he told Indian officials that he joined ISI in 2013.

On Pakistan’s allegation that India had violated the Vienna Convention of 1961, Swarup denied this, saying that declaring someone persona non-grata was well within the ambit of the Convention.

Read: Pak informers had documents of BSF staff details, defence maps: police

“All countries should tell Pakistan that they have to rein in terror. We are ready to work with Pak to act on terror,” Swarup said.

Pakistan High Commission must ensure that there should be no anti-India activities, the MEA spokesperson added.

Swarup ridiculed Pakistan’s denial that Akhtar was a spy, saying such denials have now become commonplace from the neighbour.

“If today Pakistan is feeling isolated, it's because of its misguided policies. People of Pakistan should urge government to adopt policies that favour peace,” Swarup concluded.